Domestic Wastes: Waste Management

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1659W, on domestic wastes: waste management, if he will provide statistics for the amount of waste produced per person in local authorities operating  (a) alternate weekly collections and  (b) traditional weekly collections, based on the data on which councils operate alternate weekly collections referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 77W on domestic waste.

Joan Ruddock: It is not possible to provide an accurate comparison of the amount of waste produced per person in local authority areas running alternate weekly collection (AWC) services and the amount produced in those that are not. The list provided to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman),  Official Report, column 77W, reflected our knowledge at the time, but it is subject to change. Additionally, the collection of the data does not neatly coincide with the roll-out of AWC schemes. Indeed, many schemes are currently being rolled out, so not all households in a local authority area on the list will receive the service. In addition, AWC is being trialled in some areas and no decision has been taken as to whether such schemes will be rolled out more widely.
	The 2005-06 municipal waste statistics, which include tonnages for individual local authorities, can be found on DEFRA's website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wastats/bulletin.htm
	Data on the performances of individual local authorities can also be found on the websites of the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Audit Commission.

Palestinians: Transport

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with international colleagues on Palestinian development, with particular reference to the development of a Palestinian  (a) airport and  (b) port.

Shahid Malik: My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) held regular discussions with international colleagues on Palestinian development and I will continue to do so.
	Under the UK presidency, the EU led in negotiations with the parties and Secretary Rice to agree the Agreement on Movement and Access which was signed by Israel and the Palestinians in November 2005. This Agreement states that construction of a seaport should commence. The Agreement also notes the importance of an airport in Gaza and recommends that discussions on construction, security and operations should begin. Despite this Agreement, negotiations on the seaport and airport are currently on hold.
	At this difficult time in Gaza the urgent priorities are to ensure sufficient and regular supplies to meet the basic needs of Gaza's 1.3 million people and to re-open external trade. However, in the longer term, establishing reliable access to the outside world will be essential for sustainable economic development, poverty reduction and a viable Palestinian state.
	The Government regularly raise their concerns on movement and access restrictions with the Israeli Authorities.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) individuals and  (b) households who were in receipt of (i) housing benefit and (ii) council tax benefit were also in receipt of (A) income support, (B) family credit and (C) any other state means-tested assistance in (1) 1992-93, (2) 1997-98 and (3) 2005-06.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. The most recent available information is May 2004. The available information for DWP administered benefits is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients, by receipt of other benefit( 1) : in Great Britain, May 1992, May 1997 and May 2004 
			   Housing  b enefit  Council  tax benefit 
			  May 1992   
			 All 4,328,000 6,550,000 
			 With Income Support(2) 2,598,000 3,786,000 
			 With Family Credit 92,000 122,000 
			 With other income related benefits(3) 7,000 10,000 
			 May 1997   
			 All 4,639,000 5,499,000 
			 With Income Support 2,330,000 2,808,000 
			 With Family Credit 242,000 225,000 
			 With other income related benefits(3) 683,000 672,000 
			
			  May 2004   
			 All 3,879,000 4,759,000 
			 With Income Support 1,476,000 1,541,000 
			 With Family Credit (4)— (4)— 
			 With other income related benefits(3) 1,515,000 2,148,000 
			 (1) Figures refer to cases where either the claimant or the partner was in receipt of other benefits.  (2) Figures include income support for the unemployed in 1992.  (3) Other state income-related benefits are disability working allowance in 1992-97, income-based jobseeker's allowance in 1997-2004 and pension credit in 2004.  (4) Denotes not applicable; working families tax credit replaced family credit in 1999.   Notes:   1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.  2. HB data excludes any extended payment cases.  3. CTB data excludes second adult rebate cases.  4. Income support for the unemployed was replaced by income-based jobseeker's allowance in October 1996.  5. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) in October 2003 and extended IS entitlement to customers aged 60+.   Source:  Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) individuals and  (b) households were in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) family credit, (iii) housing benefit, (iv) council tax benefit and (v) tax credits in (A) 1992-93, (B) 1997-98 and (C) 2005-06; and what the total was of these benefits.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the following tables. Information about Tax Credits is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	
		
			  Income support claimants in Great Britain as at May in each of the years shown 
			   Number 
			 1992 5,112,000 
			 1997 3,977,100 
			 2005 2,150,760 
			  Notes:  1. May 1992 figures are produced from a one per cent sample, uprated to WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest thousand.  2. May 1997 figures are produced from a 5 per cent. sample, uprated to WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest hundred.  3. May 2005 figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  4. The information for 1997 includes minimum income guarantee; pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee in October 2003   Source:  DWP Information Directorate one per cent five per cent sample and 100 per cent WPLS 
		
	
	
		
			  Family credit claimants in Great Britain at May in each year shown 
			   Number 
			 1992 396,700 
			 1997 748,000 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest one hundred.  2. Working families tax credit replaced family credit in 1999.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate five per cent sample. 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants in Great Britain at May in each year shown 
			   Housing b enefit  Council tax benefit 
			 1992 4,325,500 6,563,940 
			 1997 4,639,350 5,498,250 
			 2005 3,956,820 4,959,690 
			  Notes:  1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  2. Caseloads have been rounded to the nearest 10.  3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.  4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any second adult rebate cases.  5. Figures for any non-responding local authorities have been estimated.   Source:  Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals were living in households where one or more persons in those households received  (a) an income-related benefit,  (b) personal tax credit,  (c) an income-related benefit or any personal tax credit and (d) any income related-benefit and any personal tax credit in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2005-06.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the following table. Information about Tax Credits is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	
		
			  Income-related benefit recipients in Great Britain as at May 1997 and May 2004 
			   All  Claimants  Partners 
			 May 1997 9,140,000 7,530,000 1,610,000 
			 May 2004 7,790,000 6,510,000 1,290,000 
			  Notes:  1. Income-related benefits are income support (IS), income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA(IB)), pension credit (PC), housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB).  2. Overlaps between benefits have been removed.  3. Due to the estimation procedure used to remove the overlaps between housing benefit and council tax benefit, figures have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.  4. IS/JSA 5 per cent. figures have been uprated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. totals of WPLS data.  5. HB data excludes any extended payment cases.  6. CTB data excludes second adult rebate cases.  7. Some income-based JSA claimants may also have entitlement to benefit via the contributory route.  8. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) in October 2003 and extended IS entitlement to customers aged 60+.   Source:  Information Directorate, 5 per cent samples; 100 per cent. Work and Pensions longitudinal study; and, housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample.

Holidays: Pets

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the British Tourist Board on increasing the number of pet-friendly  (a) hotels,  (b) bed and breakfast,  (c) holiday parks and  (d) holiday resorts.

Margaret Hodge: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor my right hon. Friends the Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Woodward) and the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell) have discussed this issue with VisitBritain, which has performed the statutory functions of the British Tourism Authority since 2003.
	VisitBritain currently operates the Pets Come Too! marketing campaign, as one of its range of Welcome Schemes. The campaign is designed to make international and domestic visitors to England aware of hotels, bed and breakfast establishments, and providers of self-catering accommodation, which welcome pets.

Video Games: Violence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the regulation of violent video games.

Margaret Hodge: None. But Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Baroness Scotland of Asthal and my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) represented the UK at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the Council of the European Union held on 12 and 13 June where violent video games were discussed. A statement setting out the outcome of the Council's discussions was laid in Parliament on 27 June.

Children: Databases

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on the National Children's database on data protection and confidentiality.

Beverley Hughes: We have consulted widely at every stage throughout the design and development of ContactPoint and have received a number of representations about compliance with the Data Protection Act (DPA) and about confidentiality. We have worked closely with the Information Commissioner's Office and continue to enjoy an open and constructive relationship with them. We are confident that ContactPoint is fully compliant with the DPA and that the confidentiality of children, young people and their families have been taken into account.
	The fourth data protection principle provides that data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. The draft Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations 2007, laid before Parliament on 25 June, will bring ContactPoint into operation. The draft regulations provide that local authorities and other suppliers of data to the system must take reasonable steps to ensure that the data is accurate.
	Each local authority will be responsible for the records of children in their area and will have dedicated resources, funded by my Department, to carry out data matching and cleansing to ensure the accuracy and quality of the data held on ContactPoint. The DPA provides that individuals have the right to see personal data held about them and to have it corrected, where applicable. Draft statutory ContactPoint guidance, currently out for consultation until 27 July, sets out how local authorities are expected to handle requests from children and their parents to see their information on ContactPoint and to have any inaccuracies resolved.
	The confidentiality and security of the information held on ContactPoint—basic identifying information on all children in England and contact details of practitioners providing services to them—is a key priority. Details of practitioners providing sensitive services, defined as sexual health, mental health and substance abuse, may only be added to ContactPoint with the informed and explicit consent of the child, young person or, where appropriate, their parent. These sensitive service practitioner contact details will be hidden from the view of users. Local authority ContactPoint teams will broker contact between the sensitive service provider and another practitioner who considers that there is good reason to know who is providing the sensitive service.
	There will also be special arrangements to protect the records of children whose circumstances may mean that they are at increased risk, for example, where they are fleeing domestic violence. Information that could reveal the whereabouts of the child can be hidden from the view of ContactPoint users. Decisions to do this will be taken on a case by case basis and will be based on the level of threat posed if information becomes more widely available. This is entirely consistent with the principles of the DPA.

Sure Start Programme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost has been of the Sure Start programme in each year since it began.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start expenditure for the period from 1998-99 to 2006-07 is shown in the table. Total expenditure includes Sure Start local programmes, child care and some nursery education funding. From 2003-04, expenditure figures also include funding for Sure Start Children's Centres.
	
		
			   Sure Start current and capital expenditure (£ million) 
			 1998-99 179 
			 1999-2000 213 
			 2000-01 367 
			 2001-02 467 
			 2002-03 680 
			 2003-04 720 
			 2004-05 928 
			 2005-06 1,240 
			 2006-07(1) 1,384 
			 (1 )Estimated outturn.   Note: Data shown corresponds to outturn figures published in departmental reports. 1997-98 excluded as not on like with like basis.

Non-proliferation Treaty Review

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in preparation for the non-proliferation treaty review conference in 2010.

Kim Howells: On 25 June, my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett) set out how we intended to work towards the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in 2010.
	She called for a reinvigorated commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons and recognised the pressure on the nuclear Non-Proliferation regime, particularly from Iran and North Korea. She made clear that we are committed to strengthen all aspects of the Nuclear NPT.

Iran

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on Iran.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State (Margaret Beckett) had regular discussions with her European counterparts on Iran, most recently at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 June.

Middle East

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend for Leeds North-East (Mr. Hamilton)
	The Middle East Peace Process is one of our highest priorities. Our objective remains a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution is the only realistic basis for a just and lasting peace, despite Hamas' actions in Gaza. This means a viable state of Palestine living in peace and security alongside the state of Israel. Both parties need to fulfil their obligations in order for this to become a reality. The international community has a key role to play in helping to secure this outcome. The Government are fully committed to doing whatever it can to help.

Occupied Territories

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the growth of illegal settlements in the west bank and east Jerusalem since 2002.

Kim Howells: We remain concerned at continuing settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Non-governmental organisations have reported that the number of settlements has not changed but totals of settlers have risen.
	The UK has stated that the settlements are illegal under international law; Israel should freeze all construction, including "natural growth" of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv last raised our concerns with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 28 May.

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: the security situation in the southern provinces of Afghanistan remains very challenging. Our forces, and those of Afghanistan and other international security assistance force nations, continue to work with great professionalism and bravery to provide the people of the Helmand and Kandahar provinces with the support they require to construct the services and infrastructure needed so badly in that part of the world.

Australia: Foreign Relations

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart since January.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his Australian counterpart as yet. He looks forward to that opportunity. My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett) and her counterpart, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, met for substantive bilateral discussions on 18 to 19 December 2006 at the Australia-United Kingdom ministerial dialogue meeting in London.

Canada

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett) last spoke to her counterpart, Canadian Foreign Minister Mr. Peter MacKay, by telephone on 9 March, when they discussed a number of international issues.

Darfur Oil Trust Fund

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other Members of the Government on the proposals for a Darfur Oil Trust Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the proposal for an oil trust fund with other Members of the Government. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development officials are discussing the proposal and will discuss the idea in more detail with the Aegis Trust.
	We welcome the Aegis Trust proposal for an oil trust fund. This could be an option for consideration in the future to put further pressure on the Government of Sudan to meet its commitments on Darfur. As with other measures, we need to carefully consider its impact on the economy and poverty reduction in the whole of Sudan, and on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), agreed between north and south Sudan in 2005. Oil revenues are key to delivering the CPA's peace dividend across Sudan. The UK's policy remains focused on smart and targeted multilateral sanctions.

Russia and UK-EU Relations

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Russian relations with the UK and the EU.

Jim Murphy: Russia is a key partner for the UK and the BID. Both the UK and the EU share interests with Russia for example on trade, energy, human rights, security and a host of international issues, but on occasions our assessments and approaches differ. Where we have disagreements or concerns, we, and the EU, raise them frankly with the Russian authorities.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Saudi Arabian officials on the country's human rights record.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the former Foreign Secretary's (Margaret Beckett) most recent meetings with her counterpart His Royal Highness Prince Saud were in the margins of the Iraq Compact Group (May) and the Paris Donor Conference for Lebanon (January) and focused on issues relevant to those events.
	We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, regularly raising our concerns, both bilaterally and through the European Union.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to  (a) expedite the deployment of the full African Union-United Nations force to Darfur and  (b) encourage other countries to act in a similar manner; and if he will take steps to establish a public and verifiable timetable to keep the Sudanese government to its commitments to accept the joint force.

Meg Munn: We are pressing the African Union (AU) and UN to deploy the AU-UN hybrid force as quickly as possible. We are preparing a draft UN Security Council Resolution, with other Security Council members, to mandate the force which will give the UN the authority it needs to begin preparations for deployment later this year. The Peace and Security Council of the AU has already endorsed the proposed mandate for the force.
	We have also made clear to the Government of Sudan that we would consider tougher measures if they were to take action which impeded the deployment of this force.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the proposed mandate for the Joint African Union-United Nations deployment to Darfur.

Meg Munn: The proposed mandate is available in the Library of the House: it is contained in the joint report for a hybrid peacekeeping force produced by the African Union (AU) and UN and presented to the government of Sudan in Addis Ababa on 12 June.
	The Peace and Security Council of the AU endorsed the proposed mandate on 22 June. It also requested that the UN Security Council authorise urgently its deployment. We are preparing a UN Security Council Resolution with other Security Council members that will mandate the force.

Uganda: Diplomatic Relations

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Museveni of Uganda following the President's statement that the UK was responsible for Zimbabwe's economic and social problems.

Meg Munn: We are not aware that President Museveni has recently made such a statement.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Mr. McCartney, gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llywd) on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 225W.

Meat: Standards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Trading Standards representatives on the regulation of businesses which insert water and protein into meat.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency has been working closely with trading standards officers to ensure that consumers are not misled about the chicken they buy.
	Enforcement officers are encouraged to take action where food business operators are found to be selling chicken that does not comply with food safety and labelling legislation.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent to date under phase two of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme  (a) in total and  (b) in each region in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: At 5 pm on 26 June 2007, the expenditure under Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme was £2,006.50, which was an interim claim for a project in the East of England.
	Real-time national and regional data on both fund allocation and expenditure is available on the programme website:
	www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent under Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme  (a) in total and  (b) in each region of the UK in each month since the scheme has been operating; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 26 June 2007
	At 5 pm on 26 June 2007, the expenditure under Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programmes was £2,006.50, which was an interim claim for a project in the East of England paid in June 2007.
	Real-time national and regional data on both fund allocation and expenditure is available on the programme website: www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much money under Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme has not yet been allocated; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 26 June 2007
	At 5pm on 26 June 2007, £1,688,839.81 of the £50,000,000 Low Carbon Buildings Programme fund had been allocated. The remainder, less programme management fees, has not yet been allocated.
	Real-time national and regional data on both fund allocation and expenditure is available on the programme website: www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk